The attack on BJP legislator from Abohar, Arun Narang onSaturday in Punjab's Malout town has drawn widespread criticism from netizens,some of whom expressed shock seeing the way the Narang was thrashed by theprotesting farmers.
Whatexactly happened?
As per BJP leaders who accompanied Narang to attend apress conference in Malout, the MLA was injured after he was heckled by a groupof protesters. His clothes were allegedly ripped off by the protesters, whoalso threw black ink on him as soon as he arrived there.
The BJP leaders left the spot in a huff, alleging thatthe Congress government in the state was behind the incident.
Meanwhile, the protesters, who had gathered there aheadof the arrival of the BJP MLA, told Narang that the farm laws passed by theCentre were against the farmers and they should be revoked, otherwise, no BJPleader would be allowed to address the people in the state.
The vehicle of BJP MLA was also disfigured with blackpaint. A video of his heckling has gone viral on social media, in which thepolice could be seen trying to protect and ensure the safety of the legislator.A senior police officer too received injuries in the scuffle.
Well,the incident definitely did not go down well with the netizens! Have a look howpeople reacted to the viral videos
From Punjab CM to BJP leaders to other politicians andeven common people and media persons, everyone out there has criticized the incidentespecially thrashing and stripping a person out in public. Here’s a quick readto some of the tweets below:
What the hell is happening in Punjab? @capt_amarinder, a @BJP4IndiaMLA was beaten n stripped by so-called ‘farmers’ while police looked on? Ifthis happened in a @BJP4India state, imagine d uproar in media! But this is @INCIndiastate, so all is quiet.
Disturbing visuals of BJP MLA from Abohar, Punjab beingassaulted & stripped naked by the public in protest. People's anger isjustified, but violence doesn't help the cause. There is deep anger against BJPacross India and BJP Govt must shed its arrogance & address people.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Abohar Arun Narangstripped & beaten up! These are anarchists not annadatas! Sadly, Punjabgovt has been protecting these anarchists be it the 26th Jan Tirangadesecration or telecom tower destruction! Will the so-called Farm Netascondemn?
#DeathOfDemocracy in Punjab. Anarchy at its peak. Creditgoes to @INCIndia for bringing the khalistani terror back in Punjab! #BJPAttackedinPunjab
Whathappened today to a @BJP4India MLA ( Abhor) is not what Punjab and Farmersstand for. This is not our Culture and should be condemned outrightly. Punjabis a tribe of Bravehearts and warriors but never known for such cowardly mobattacks. This is not what our Guru's preached.
Has the law and order totally collapsed in Punjab? BJPMLA, Arun Narang beaten to a pulp, stripped naked in police’s presence by aviolent mob in Malout, Muktsar. If this is what can happen to an elected MLA, Ishudder to think about the state of an average BJP voter in Punjab.
Nowthe biggest question, why are farmers resorting to violence??
It’s been six months now that farmers are protesting againstthe three Central farm laws passed by the Parliament in September last year.Over 200 farmers have committed suicide or died due to nail-biting cold orother health problems at the three Delhi Borders in last six months.
Farmers are angry over the fact that Modi-led-BJPgovernment is not paying heed to their demands and supporting laws that wouldrather promote big brands – Ambani and Adani.
Gurbachan Singh, a Jalandhar-based farmer, said, “We are disappointedover the fact that our government is supporting such laws that farmers do notwant for themselves. So many of our brothers, fathers have died, but what wesee is the videos of the BJP leaders making fun of their deaths”.
“The funda is simple, if the laws are for farmers, itshould have been devised taking consent from farm leaders. Now when if farmersare saying they don’t want such laws, why is this government so adamant and notready to repeal it?, said Singh, adding that we never wanted to adopt thisnon-violent way, but what happened with farmers in Delhi, the way they were putbehind bars for no reason, is what makes us angry.
Knowhow Punjab Govt and BJP leaders reacted to the incident
Strongly condemning the attack on BJP MLA from Abohar,Arun Narang, allegedly by angry farmers protesting the Centre’s Farm Laws,Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and Speaker Rana KP Singh onSaturday warned of strict action against anyone trying to disturb the state’speace by taking the law into their hands.
Captain Amarinder also directed DGP Dinkar Gupta to takestrict action, under the law, against the perpetrators, who also clashed withthe police personnel who tried to rescue the MLA. Meanwhile, as many as 250persons have been booked and an FIR has been registered in the case.
Meanwhile, BJP national general secretary Tarun chugh,said that murderous attack on BJP MLA Atul Narang has exposed complete collapseof law and order in Punjab. In a statement he held Chief Minister AmarinderSingh squarely responsible for it and said that it looked like the Congressstrategy to engineer attack on the BJP leaders on the pretext of farmers.
WhatArun Narang said after the incident?
Abohar MLA, Narang termed Punjab Police negligence to bethe main cause of the incident. He said despite his request police failed toarrange more security personnel. He said the protesters were armed, while thepolice had no weapons not even a stick to handle the situation.
“I don’t saythey were farmers who attacked on me, but yes they all were holding KisanFlags. If they were anti-social elements and some politically motivated goons,then it’s the duty of the government to ensure law and order in the state”, hesaid.